Hundreds of unionized city workers in Saint John now have a new collective agreement in place.
Council voted to ratify the new five-year deal during a special meeting on Monday night.
It came just hours after members of CUPE Local 18 voted to do the same during a separate meeting.
Workers had been without a contract since the beginning of the year. Negotiations began on Jan. 16, and a tentative agreement was reached on May 26.
Deputy Mayor John MacKenzie said he is impressed with how quickly both sides work to reach a new deal.
“To come to an agreement in 11 meetings, that shows commitment, dedication and professionalism, and I thank you all very much for that,” said MacKenzie.
Workers will receive a wage increase of 15.5 per cent over the five-year life of the contract.
That includes two increases for 2025 — a two per cent increase effective Jan. 1 and another two per cent increase on July 1.
They will also get a 3.5 per cent increase in 2026, a three per cent increase in 2027, and 2.5 per cent increases in 2028 and 2029.
Brent McGovern, the city’s chief administrative officer, said most of the changes in the new agreement involve minor tweaks.
“In terms of productivity, having people working statutory holidays when managers are working so that people are working together as opposed to forcing them to work a day when we’re not typically open for business,” said McGovern.
Services by Local 18 employees include wastewater collection and treatment, drinking water distribution, park mowing, ballfield maintenance, street plowing, pothole patching, vehicle maintenance and garbage collection.
